---
title: "CVE-2026-97531: Linux Kernel qla2xxx - Use After Free"
description: "Linux kernel scsi qla2xxx contains a use-after-free caused by improper handling of vport deletion in report ID acquisition, letting attackers cause memory corruption or system instability, exploit requires kernel-level access."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-97531/
---

# CVE-2026-97531 Linux Kernel qla2xxx - Use After Free

Linux kernel scsi qla2xxx contains a use-after-free caused by improper handling of vport deletion in report ID acquisition, letting attackers cause memory corruption or system instability, exploit requires kernel-level access.

CVSS base score 7.5 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Not required

EPSS

0.28% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97531)

## Details

Type

Use After Free

Impact

Denial Of Service, Remote Code Execution

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

25 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the fix for this issue.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97531](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97531)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/23582731afa35031c94fadb71a4f3b4afd094649](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/23582731afa35031c94fadb71a4f3b4afd094649)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7a83979d92782f83c90888ebe19bdc9420521940](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7a83979d92782f83c90888ebe19bdc9420521940)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d61e8de98c5a52978fb1edd95fe4dde3131b280e](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d61e8de98c5a52978fb1edd95fe4dde3131b280e)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/20bb54601d2655e83795b73499c89f6b1cb31016](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/20bb54601d2655e83795b73499c89f6b1cb31016)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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